UP Visayas alumni again played heroes and took in their care 14 Ilonggo students from UP Diliman who were unable to go home before the lockdown was implemented.
The group arrived in Iloilo on May 31, 2020 from Metro Manila after they were cleared to go home. They, along with other stranded Ilonggos in Manila took a sweeper flight organized by the Iloilo City government and were brought to the city’s Jubilee Hall.
To minimize risk of virus exposure in the city’s quarantine facility, the concerned alumni thought it best to transfer the 14 UP Diliman to another location and assumed the task of coordinating with Iloilo City and UP Visayas. The 14 students are now accommodated in a private pension house with air-conditioned rooms and a strong wifi at greatly reduced lodging fees. UPDanay, one of the relief campaign arms of UP Visayas will try to help in the costs for specified student/s who will not be able to afford the expense. The group will be quarantined for 14 days while awaiting the results of their PCR test.
UPAA-Iloilo Chapter and iAmUPhi through Atty. Nellie Jo Regalado, legal counsel of UP Visayas, organized a call for help to provide free three meals-a-day especially for those whose parents, for some reasons, are unable to bring food for their children in quarantine. Several UPV alumni generously responded with donations of food and health products while some faculty and staff also sent help.
UP Visayas has actually readied its Iloilo City and Miagao dormitories as quarantine facilities for returning Ilonggo students who study at other UP units all over the country. But it learned of the arrival of UP Diliman students several hours after they had landed at the Iloilo airport on Sunday. It must be stressed that no official communication regarding the inclusion of UP Diliman students in the sweeper flight was forwarded in advance to any of the offices that was responsible for the university’s COVID-19 response.
UPV Chancellor Ricardo Babaran has tasked the Office of Student Affairs to coordinate with their counterparts in other UP units regarding arrangements for students returning home. Nevertheless, the incident only proved that UPV and its alumni are closely working together in facing the challenges brought about by the current health crisis.
Following the release from quarantine of these UP Diliman students based on the results of their COVID-19 test results, UP Visayas shall take them to their respective home residences using the UPV vehicles.
